Yamaha Outboards Team of the Year Decided on a tie-breaker at Saginaw Bay

By Steve Weisman GNWC Publicity Director

Going into the final regular season tournament for the Michigan Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC), the team of Ed Clements from Bay City, MI and Dennis Gulau from Midland, MI knew they had to score big if they wanted any chance at the Yamaha Outboards Team of the Year. Written like a movie script, Clements and Gulau captured the Saginaw Bay Tournament on Friday, August 26, winning the $1400 first place check and the Yamaha Outboards Team of the Year honors in one of the closest finishes ever recorded on the GNWC circuit. James Ballor III from Lanse, MI and Jon Thekan from Florence, WI, who had been in first place heading into Saginaw Bay, placed fifth in the tournament and tied with Clements and Gulau at 35 points. It took several tie breaker options before the total weight difference for all four tournaments decided the winner. Gulau said, "I hope we haven't used up our good luck. We start the Michigan State Championship tomorrow right here on Saginaw Bay. It's hard to do this three days in a row." Thekan echoed those sentiments and added, "It's been close all year, and we've been in more than one tie this year. We've had a great year, and we're still right there." Clements and Gulau weighed a four-fish weight of 8.91 pounds to win the event, while the team of Cal Stier and Cal Stier, JR, from Bath, MI took the second place check of $700 with a two-fish weight of 8.07 pounds. Third place and a check for $520 went to the team of Marc McCalebb from Saginaw, MI and Jon Chapin from Midland, MI with one fish weighing 6.33 pounds. It also earned them the Cabela's Big Fish Award of a $200 Cabela's shopping spree and the optional Big Fish Pot of $280. The Yo So Close Award, provided by AMFYOYO, manufacturer of the innovative stowable folding landing net, went to the three teams just finishing out of the money. They include the team of Mike Gildersleeve West Branch, MI and Jim Shaffer from Swartz Creek, MI in 11th place; Cy Kondel from Byron, MI and Jon Freese from Swartz Creek, MI in 12th place; and Michael Lyons from Davisburg, MI and Willie Hawkins from Pontiac, MI in 13th place. All teams noted that the bite was a tough one, but that the walleyes are there. It will be only a matter of time before the bite takes off. As Galau noted, "The bite is almost non-existent. Instead of targeting fish, we're targeting an area that we know is holding good fish. When the conditions are right, they will take off." The top teams were all pulling crawler harnesses, but with the Michigan State Championship of Walleye Fishing starting on Saturday, there was very little information shared. That information will be shared with the public at Sunday's final weigh-in. With the regular season now over, GNWC Executive Director Barringer talked about the quick turnaround for the Michigan Region. "The Michigan State Championship of Walleye Fishing is up next and begins tomorrow right here at Saginaw Bay. It is a two-day championship with the top 30 teams vying for the $6400 first place prize which includes $5000 in cash plus two Lowrance LMS-332C color sonar/GPS units valued at $1400." For those interested in learning more about the GNWC, call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com. Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship sponsors are Towtector Shield and the FoodSource Lure Corporation